3 Flashcards
look into
to examine the facts about a problem or situation:
We’re looking into the possibility of merging the two departments.
look on
to consider sth as:
We look on our old house as our real home
to watch something happen but not become involved in it:
A large crowd looked on as the band played.
look sb up
to visit someone you have not seen for a long time when you are visiting the place where they live:
Look me up next time you’re in Los Angeles.
make for
to be one thing, or the most important thing, that causes something:
Everyone agreed that filming inside a chocolate factory would make for good television.
make off with sth
to steal something (informal). Somebody broke into the shop and made off with several TVs.
make out
to pretend:
Tim made out he hadn’t seen the sign
to manage to understand sth:
I couldn’t quite make out what the notice said
make sb out
to understand sb’s behavior. Janet is really odd. I can’t make her out
make sth up
to invent something, such as an excuse or a story, often in order to deceive:
I made up an excuse about having to look after the kids.
My dad was always really good at making up stories.
make up for
to take the place of something lost or damaged or to compensate for something bad with something good:
No amount of money can make up for the death of a child.
This year’s good harvest will make up for last year’s bad one.
He bought me dinner to make up for being so late the day before.
miss out
to fail to use an opportunity to enjoy or get an advantage from something:
Don’t miss out on the fantastic bargains in our summer sale.
We didn’t have a TV at home when I was young, and I felt as though I missed out.
own up
to admit that you have done something wrong:
No one has owned up to stealing the money.
pack in
to stop an activity:
John has packed in his job
pay sb back
to take revenge:
She paid him back for all his insults
pick up
to increase or improve:
The truck picked up speed slowly.
The wind always picks up in the evening.
The number of applicants will pick up during the autumn.
His spirits picked up when he got the good news.
Her career only began to pick up when she was in her forties.
pin sb down
to make someone provide details about something or make a decision about something. I’ve tried asking Stephanie, but she’s proving difficult to pin down to a particular date.
to stop someone from escaping by surrounding and shooting at them if they try to escape:
Government forces were pinned down by resistance fighters 30 miles north of the capital.
point sth out
to draw attention to a fact:
I feel I should point out how dangerous it is.
pull off
to suceed in doing sth (usually with joke or plan):
It was a tricky plan, but we pulled it off
push on
to continue an effort:
Let’s push on and reach the coast by tonight
They are pushing on with their campaign for improved childcare facilities.
put across
to communicate ideas.
Harry is clever but he can’t put his ideas across
It’s an interesting idea and I thought he put it across well.
put down to
to think that a problem or situation is caused by a particular thing:
I put the children’s bad behaviour down to the fact that they were tired.
Diane’s poor performance was put put down to nerves
put in for
to make an official request to have or do something:
I’m putting in for a job at the hospital.
Richard’s finally put in for his driving test.
put oneself out
to make an effort to do something to help someone, even if it is not convenient:
Ethan is always willing to put himself out for other people.
Please don’t put yourself out making a meal. A sandwich will do
put off
to discourage or upset sb:
I really don’t want to go out with Helen and Greg tonight - can’t we put them off ?
He keeps asking me out, and I keep putting him off.
put sb up
to offer acommodation:
We can put you up for a few days
Sally is putting me up for the weekend.
put up with
to tolerate or bear:
I can put up with the house being messy, but I hate it if it’s not clean.
He’s so moody - I don’t know why she puts up with him.
(get) rip sb off
to be charged too much:
In big cities tourists usually get ripped off
Bob’s tickets cost much less than ours - I think we’ve been ripped off.
run sb down
to criticize someone or something, often unfairly:
He’s always running himself down.
moody
If someone is moody, their moods change suddenly and they become angry or unhappy easily:
a moody teenager
